In recent years, we've seen increasingly inventive use of DIY to tackle heatwaves and surging popularity in home improvement due to national lockdowns. As more of us spend time at home, it seems as though interest in DIY is on the increase - but what do you need to keep in mind if you're undergoing your home improvement project this summer?

Tools

Whatever the scale of your home DIY task, it's essential that you equip yourself with the right tools for the job. When shopping as a DIY newbie, ensure that you use tools of a professional standard you know you can rely on, such as those produced by trusted brands like DeWalt Power Tools. The quality of your tools will directly affect your work quality, while cheaply produced equipment can be unsafe and inaccurate, potentially putting you at risk, prolonging working time, and even leading to restorative expense further down the line. 

Personal protective equipment

As a leading priority in the fight against COVID, personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for many home DIY tasks. Whether you're sanding, drilling, cutting, or painting, it's essential that you take the proper precautions to reduce risk and ensure that you're working in a safe environment. The most common types of PPE for home DIY include respiratory protection (such as facemasks), hand protection (such as gloves), and eye protection (including goggles). Depending on the scale of the task and the specific tools you're using, you may also decide to employ foot protection, knee protection, and hearing protection.

Plan

Once properly equipped for the task, it's time to make a thorough action plan. Proper planning can reduce working time, save money and ensure success, especially for those more complicated jobs. Do as much research as possible on the task, and don't be afraid to mix and match the working methods discovered in your findings. When budgeting time and money for the task, try not to underestimate and always allocate extra time and funds for unforeseen blips. 

Start small

Whether you're painting, plastering, or putting in new floors, you must start small and break your home improvement job into manageable portions. Try to divide larger tasks into 'chunks' and arrange these by complexity, starting with the smaller, easier tasks - this can go a long way in practical work. By starting with the more simple tasks, you should be able to identify any problems or issues more quickly and better establish a workflow for the more complicated and potentially costly jobs on the agenda. 

Final thoughts

Summer is finally here, and we're ready to get our DIY on. But before you start painting walls or hanging curtains, make sure you know what you're getting into. Use these four tips to help you avoid common mistakes and keep your home in tip-top shape this summer.

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